Combination girdle and hernia truss



y 1944 J. ROSENZWEIG 2,349,113

COMBINATION GIRDLE AND HERNIA THUSS Filed Jan. 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet lQ @4 55. 5, \9 INVENTOR JZ/Z/US POSENZWE/G ATTORNEY y 16, 1944- .1.ROSENZWEIG COMBINATION G'IRDLE AND HERNIA TRUSS Filed Jan. 12, 1943 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR mu E M m N W o 5 T w .M 5m W 4 U y 16, 1944-.61. ROSENZWEIG 2,349,113

COMBINATION GIRDLE AND HERNIA TRUSS Filed Jan. 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTQR Jul/U5 POSEA/ZM E/G BY t 7 W ATTORNEY Patented May 16, 1944UNITED STATES event OFFICE CGMBINA'EION GERDLE AND HERNIA TRUSS JuliusRosenzweig, New York, N. Y. Application January 12, 1948, Serial No.472,117,

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination girdle and hernia truss, and thelike articles.

An object of this invention is to provide an article of the characterdescribed having pressure pads which are adjustable to fit differentpeople and to place the pad in the necessary position, said pads beingalso removable to permit cleaning of the girdle, and also to permit thegirdle to be used without the pads, as after an operation or by activpeople to constrict and support the body,-and also to permit thecovering for the pad to be cleaned.

Another object of this invention is to provide an article of thecharacter described which will loosen somewhat when the wearer sits andtightens when the wearer is active as when he runs, jumps or exercises,thus providing relaxation when it is desired and the necessary supportwhen it is needed most.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an article of thecharacter described, having padding in the leg bands for comfort, and inwhich the leg bands are integral parts of the girdle and have free endswhich can be laced to the body of the girdle by the girdle laces, thuspermitting adjustment of the leg bands to suit the wearer.

Yet a further object of this invention is toprovide an article of thecharacter described having eyelettedslit edges which may be lacedtogether to tighten the article on the body, the slit edges beinginterconnected by gussets forming pockets to receive the ends of the legbands and the pressure pads, said pads likewise being provided withopenings to permit the pads'to be laced in place by the laceswhich-tighten up the article on the body and'attach the ends of the legbands to the bodyof the article.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an article of thecharacter described having supporting straps which may either be passedover the shoulders of the wearer oraround the body of the wearer andbuckled in place to retain the article on the body;

Still another object of this invention is to provide an article of thecharacter described in which the leg bands are formed with pockets toreceive padding removably inserted therein, the padding having means tofacilitate insertion thereof into said pockets,

Still a further object ofthis invention is to provide an article of thecharacter described having means to support the testicles when worn bymen.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in an article ofthe character described a hernia pressure pad which is resilient andhighly comfortable to wear.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a strong anddurable combination girdle and truss of the character described whichshall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to don and dofi,comfortable to wear and yet practical, sanitary and efiicient in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a combination girdle and trussembodying the invention, or a figure;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional. view taken on line 4- of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 4a is a perspective view of a modified form of truss pad;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the spring used in the truss pad;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the inside of th improved article stretchedout flat;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken on line 3-8 of Fig, 7;

9 is a top plan view of one of the leg pads;

Fig. 10 is a partial front View of one of the girdle sleeves showing thetruss pocket and end of leg band laced to one of the sleeves;

Fig. 11 is a partial, front elevational view of an article embodying theinvention and illustrating a modified construction, on a figure;

Fig. 12 is a partial enlarged view of a portion of the article shown inFig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a front view of a pad illustrating a modified form;

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of the pocket for the pad illustrated inFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a view of the ball inserted into the pocket of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a rear view of a modified form of in sert for the pocketshown in Fig. 14; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the article shown in Figs. 11 and 12but with the straps around the body instead of around the shoulders.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Iii designates a combinationgirdle and truss shown in the drawing on a figure II. Said article IDcomprises a pair of similar, symmetrical sections I2 of textile materialof generally triangular shape each having an upper edge portion I2a.just below the chest, a substantially vertical edge portion I2b at thefront of the body, and a downwardly inclined edge portion I2c extendingfrom the side of the body to the crotch. Sections I2 thus cover theabdomen region of the body. Said sections I2 are interconnected at theirinner edges I2a by a vertical gusset I3, extending from the upper edgeto a point above the crotch, thus terminating short of the lower ends ofsections I2.

The outer edges of gusset I3 are turned in and stitched to the inneredges I 2a of sections by double seams spaced in parallel relation andthe stitched together portions are provided with eyelets I6. The rows ofeyelets may be laced together by a lace I'I. Gusset l3 thus forms abacking sleeve for the lacing. At the lower ends of sections I2 arestrings I9 which may be tied together to provide a support beneath thetesticles when the article II] is worn by a man. If used for a women,the lower ends of sections I2 may be omitted.

The girdle I further comprises a pair of similar, symmetrical sectionsof textile material, having edges 2I parallel to edges I2c of sectionsI2 and extending around the sides of the body at the hip and terminatingin narrowed leg strap portions 22, each passing around the legs, beneaththe buttocks, and forwardly at the crotch. The narrowed portions 22 arefolded longitudinally inwardly and the meeting edges stitched togetheras at 23 to form a sleeve 24 open at its end nearest the section 20 fromwhich it extends. The end of extension 22 is stitched flat to form a tab25. Tabs 25 are each provided with two rows of eyelets 26.

The inner edges 20a are connected to edges I2c of sections II by gussets30. The outer edges of gussets are likewise turned in and stitched toedges IZc, 20a by double lines of stitching I4, the stitched togetheredges being provided with rows of eyelets 32. Thus gussets 3!) formbackings for the lacing 33 which interconnects eyelets 32, and also formsleeves or pockets to receive the free ends of the leg straps 22. andalso to househernia pressure pads 35 as will be explained hereinafter.

Within the sleeve portion 24 of each leg strap 22 is a padding member35. Said padding member may comprise a longitudinal bag filled withpadding material 38, and having an open pocket 39 at one end so that astick may be engaged in the pocket to push the padding into sleeve 24.The padding 35 is removable and replaceable, and facilitates washing thearticle I ii.

The lacing 33 may be laced through eyelets 26 in tabs 25 to attach theleg straps in adjusted position to suit the wearer.

Means is provided to strap the upper portions of girdle III to the bodyof the wearer. To this end there is provided a strap Ml stitched at oneend 4| to the upper edge of one section I2 and extending around the backof the wearer. The free end of strap 40 may be buckled to a buckle 42attached to the upper edge of the other section I2.

In addition there is stitched to the upper corner of each section 20 asat M, a strap 45 extending rearwardly and upwardly around an oppositeshoulder of the wearer and then down the front of the wearer, the freeend of said strap being attached to a buckle 46 stitched to the upperend of the opposite section I2.

The pressure pad 35 comprises a bag 50 made of a fiat piece of cloth orleather 5| and a piece of cloth or leather 52 stitched thereto at threesides leaving one end open. Piece 5| has holes 53 which may beregistered with eyelets 25 in the leg straps and eyelets 32 of gussets39 to be laced together in adjusted position by lacing 33. The pads 35are thus received in sleeves or gussets 36 and may be laced in anydesired adjusted positions in said sleeves.

' In each bag 50 is a metal spring shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to be made ofa single piece of wire bent into a continuous coil of rectangularconvolutions SI, with one side of said convolutions attached together bya sleeve 62 to cause the spring to assume a fan shape with rectangulararms BI extending in fan shape from said sleeve.

When inserting spring 60 into bag 50, the arms are pressed together andthe sleeve end of the spring is pushed in first into the bag. The springthen opens up as much as the bag will permit and causes a resilientpressure against the hernia area of the body.

In Fig. 411 there is shown a hernia pressure pad 65 having a bag 66 madeup of two V-shaped side pieces 66 interconnected by a gusset 61. Bag66'is thus V-shaped. One end of gusset 61 has lace openings 68. In bag66is a spring 60 the same as described above.

In Figs. l3, l4 and 15 is shown a hernia pressure pad I0 illustrating amodified construction. Pad I0 comprises a bag 'II having a centralopening I2 in which is inserted a small rubber ball I2 such as childrenplay with, or any other suitable padding'material. Bag II has tabs I3and I4 at the ends thereof, formed with spaced open ings 13a, 14a forreceiving the lacing 33.

Tab I4 is furthermore formed with a slot I5 and tab I3 with a neck I6.

Tab I3 may be passed through slot I5, the neck I6 facilitating suchoperation. The tabs I3, I4 may then be laced to the eyelets 32.

In Fig. 16, there is shown 2. padding device to replace ball I2. Device80 is a rubber ball out almost through in half and then opened up. Aflat piece of cardboard or wood 82 is then placed against the flatsurfaces of the cut ball and attached thereto by a string 83 tied aroundthe neck between the two substantially hemispherical portions.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 17 there is shown an article Illa similar to articleI 0 except for the straps which attach the upper portion of the articleto the body.

In article Illa, side sections 20 are each provided with a buckle 86 andwith a pair of converging strips 81 and stitched together as at 89.Extending from the meeting portion of strips 81, 88 are a pair of straps90 and 9|, the former being shorter than the latter. At the upper end ofeach section I2 is a buckle 94.

As shown in Fig. 11, each strap 90 on one side is passed around the backof the wearer and attached to buckle at the other side. Each strap 9Ipasses rearwardly and upwardly over an opposite shoulder and down thefront of the wearer and attached to the buckle 94 at said opposite side,

As shown in Fig. 17 the straps 9! may be passed all around the bodybelow the armsfrearwardly and then around the frontand' attaehed 'tothebuckle 94 at the same side of article l ila as the stitched end of saidstrap. I

If desired, the freeend of strap SKI-may be passed through thetriangular opening between strips 81, 88 on an opposite side of articlellla.

It will be noted that when the wearer sits the leg straps move up andloosen the girdle, but when the wearer is active the leg straps aremoved down and increase the pressure of the pads on the body. 1 i I Itwill be further noted that the girdleor truss is only at the front ofthe body where it is needed,

except for the straps, thus leaving the back of the body free ofconstriction.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adaptedto meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. An article of the character described, cornprising a pair ofsections, a gusset interconnecting said sections, said gusset and theadjacent edges of said sections being provided with eyelets, lacing forsaid eyelets and a pressure pad within said gusset.

2. An article of the character described, comprising a pair of sections,a gusset interconnecting said sections, said gusset and the adjacentedges of said sections being provided with eyelets. lacing for saideyelets and a pressure pad within said gusset, said pad having laceopenings and said lacing passing through said openwas.

3. An article of the character described. com.- prising a pair ofsections, a gusset interconnecting said sections, said gusset and theadjacent edges of said sections being provided with eyelets, lacing forsaid eyelets and a pressure pad Within said gusset, said pad comprisinga bag formed with lace openings, a resilient member within said bag, andsaid lacing passing through said openings.

4. A girdle comprising a pair of front sections, a gussetinterconnecting adjacent edges of said front sections, said adjacentedges being formed with eyelets, lacing passing through said eyelets,said sections extending below said gusset, and strings at the 1ower endsof said sections adapted to be tied together beneath the testicles ofthe wearer to aid in supporting the same.

5. An article of the character described, comprising front sections,side sections connected to said front sections by gussets, the edges ofsaid front and side sections adjacent said gusset being formed witheyelets. lacing for said eyelets, said side sections terminating innarrowed leg bands, the free ends of said leg bands being formed withlace openings and extending into said gussets and being laced by saidlacing.

6. An article of the character described, comprising front sections,side sections connected to said front sections b gussets, the edges ofsaid front and side sections adjacent said gusset being formed witheyelets, lacing for said eyelets,

said side sections terminatin in narrowed. leg bands, the free ends ofsaid leg bands being formed with lace openings and extending into saidgussets and being laced by said lacing, Dor tions of said leg bandsbeing sleeves, and padding within said sleeves.

7. An article of the character described, comprising front sections,side sections connected to said front sections by gussets, the edges ofsaid front and'side sections adjacent said gusset being formed withveyelets, lacing for said eyelets, said side-sections terminating innarrowed leg bands, the free ends of said leg bands being formed withlace openings and extending into said gussets and being laced by saidlacing, and hernia pressure pads within said gussets.

8. An article of the character described, comprising front sections,side sections connected to said front sections by gussets, the edges ofsaid front and side sections adjacent said gusset being formed witheyelets, lacing for said eyelets, said side sections terminating innarrowed leg bands, the free ends of said leg bands being formed withlace openings and extending into said gussets and being laced by saidlacing, and hernia pressure pads within said gussets, said pads havinglace openings to receive said lacing.

9. An article of the character described, comprisin front sections, sidesections connected to said front sections by gussets, the edges of saidfront and side sections adjacent said gusset being formed with eyelets,lacing for said eyelets, said side sections terminating in narrowed legbands, the free ends of said leg bands being formed with lace openingsand extending into said gussets and being laced by said lacing, andhernia pressure pads within said gussets, said pads having lace openingsto receive said lacing, portions of said leg bands being sleeves, andpadding removably inserted into said sleeves.

10. A combination girdle and hernia truss, comprising a pair of similar,symmetrical front sections, a, gusset having its side edges turned institched to the adjacent edges of said sections, eyelets carried by thegusset and the edges of said sections stitched thereto, a pair of sidesections connected to the outer edges of said front sections by gussetshaving their side edges turned in and stitched to said front and sidesections, lacing for each of said gussets forming sleeves of saidgussets.

11. A combination girdle and hernia, truss, comprising a pair ofsimilar, symmetrical front sections, a gusset having its side edgesturned in stitched to the adjacent edges of said sections, eyeletscarried by the gusset and the edges of said sections stitched thereto, apair of side sections connected to the outer edges of said frontsections by gussets having their side edges turned in and stitched tosaid front and side sections, lacing for each of said gussets formingsleeves of said gussets, and hernia pressure pads within the pair ofsleeves formed by the gussets between said front and side sections.

12. A combination girdle and hernia truss, comprising a pair of similar,symmetrical front sections, a gusset having its side edges turned institched to the adjacent edges of said sections, eyelets carried by thegusset and the edges of said sections stitched thereto, a pair of sidesections connected to the outer edges of said front sections by gussetshaving their side edges turned in and stitched to said front and sidesections, lacing for each of said gussets forming sleeves of saidgussets, and hernia pressure pads within the pair of sleeves formed bythe gussets between said front and side sections, said side sectionshaving extensions forming leg bands, the outer ends of sa' leg bandsbeing formed with lace openings, sa d outer ends being insertable withinsaid' pair of sleeves and attached thereto by the lacing for saidsleeves.

13. A combination girdle and hernia truss, comprising a pair of similar,symmetrical front sections, a gusset having its side edges turned institched to the adjacent edges of said sections, eyelets carried by thegusset and the edges of said sections stitched thereto, a pair of sidesections connected to the outer edges of said front sections by gussetshaving their side edges turned in and stitched to said front and sidesections, lacing for each of said gussets forming sleeves of saidgussets, and hernia pressure pads within the pair of sleeves formed bythe gussets between said front and side sections, said pads having laceopenings to receive said lacing for said pair of gussets.

14. A combination girdle and truss having sleeves, truss pads withinsaid sleeves and means to attach said pads to said sleeves in variousadjusted positions, each pad comprising a bag and a compressible padwithin said bag, said bag having two end tabs, one tab having a slotthrough which the other tab passes.

JULIUS ROSENZWEIG.

